Pat Riley objects to "Sumo" Defense of Shaq

[power plant]

Pat Riley, the Hall of Fame coach, and Shaquille O'Neal, the most dominant center in the league, were worn down following the Heat’s win over the Lakers - Riley by his 48-minute aerobic workout and O'Neal by Lakers centers Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown. "It wasn't them," a frustrated O'Neal said of his opponents after a victory that left him less than satisfied with his play. "It was me; it is never them. It's always me." But Riley had to disagree. "I'm sure that everybody will say that I'm up here trying to complain," Riley said after the game. Then he discussed what he saw as illegal defenses being used against O'Neal. "I don't see how he can ever get to the basket," Riley said. "I don't care if he is 340 pounds; they get locked into such a defensive position, they just hold him."

[Jugs]

I don't get it...

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Yes, I read that. Riley said that he might actually hire sumo wrestlers for Miami practices , just to lean on Shaq and make his life difficult. But he's probably be hard pressed to find a 7' 1" , 350 lbs sumotori any time soon...

[Matt]

why can't Shaq just admit that he's not the same player he was before. "It was all me"....if that's the case, he's a pretty shitty player if he can't do better given that the defense has no effect on him.

[EGarrett]

I personally never understood why post players are allowed to ram their butt or shoulders into the defender to back him down. I thought basketball wasn't a contact sport?

If the offensive player physically dislodges the defensive player from his established position...I always thought that was the definition of an offensive foul. You're supposed to back down in the post by going side-to-side, not ramming into people.

Maybe when the league stops letting post players ram into people, they'll be more comfortable enforcing the rules and not letting post defenders shove their man...

[SnitchDevil]

I don't get it...

It's called the kwame effect. Shaq was unable to back down Kwame Brown the entire game. He went right at work when mihm was defending him but he was struggling against kwame because Kwame wont budge no matter how hard shaq rammed his fat ass.

"It wasn't them," a frustrated O'Neal said of his opponents after a victory that left him less than satisfied with his play. "It was me; it is never them. It's always me."

Excuses, excuses.

I love you Jerry Buss.

[air gordon]

nothing new here. Riley is using the press to try and get more fouls called in Shaq's favor

[hipn]

Whoa why can't Shaq pos up on Brown or Mihm?? I mean hes a fat ass.

[SnitchDevil]

Yes, he is. Jerry Buss is a smart man, look at Shaq's numbers declining every year?
The motherfucker didnt pay you shaq. He even took krispy kreme out of staples.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

nothing new here. Riley is using the press to try and get more fouls called in Shaq's favor

Aha, finally, the TRUTH.

[Matt]

isn't it also odd that Riley signs an extension a cpl of weeks after taking the job.

[maes]

I know things are different in Miami, but where i come from when a guaranteed Hall of Famer Center complains about the "lockdown" by MIHM and KWAME, that's called "whining".

I personally never understood why post players are allowed to ram their butt or shoulders into the defender to back him down. I thought basketball wasn't a contact sport?

It's basically allowed in the low post, out in perimeter it would be an offensive foul (probably).

"Restricted Area: Any player may be in the “restricted area” if the offensive player receives the ball in the lower defensive box. If contact between players takes place on this type of play it does not necessarily mean a foul has been committed. The official must judge whether the contact is negligible and/or incidental, judging each situation separately."

Basically, a ref can ignore any contact he sees fit once the ball gets that close to the hoop.

[EGarrett]

I'm talking about outside of the restricted area.

[#12]

pat riley is hiring sumo wrestlers so shaq learns to use his post up game